Empire Strikes Back with Chris Rock
The accolades keep rolling in for Taraji P. Henson, following her role of a lifetime on Empire. The 44-year-old actress was honored with a Critics’ Choice TV Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series for her depiction of everyone’s favorite firecracker, Cookie. The victory makes her the first Black woman to win the award. “Thank you, Fox. You’re bold, you took a shot, you took a risk,” she said during her acceptance speech. “I just have to play the truth—hopefully they love her for beating her son with a broom.”
The big win for Henson comes just as anticipation builds for Empire’s sophomore season. Alicia Keys, Lenny Kravitz and Chris Rock are among the confirmed guest stars, the comedian representing “a person from the past,” according to show co-creator Danny Strong. Jussie Smollett, who plays Jamal, says his character will be “a very passionate leader” of Empire Records, following Lucious’s (Terrence Howard) jailing from the season one cliffhanger. “He’s going to lead with his heart, and sometimes that’s going to get him in trouble,” he tells The Hollywood Reporter.
Empire strikes back on Sept. 24.
Did Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill Break Up?
From a rumored engagement to a possible breakup—it’s just another day in the limelight for Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill. A pair of cryptically captioned @nickiminaj Instagram photos posted yesterday (May 31)—quoting lyrics by her new bestie, Beyoncé—seem to point to the demise of Omeeka. “Thank God ya blew it!!! Thank God I dodged the bullet!!!!” reads the caption to a photo of the Barb saluting. Accompanying another photo: “U turned out to be thaaaaaaaa…… and I’m gon always be thaaaaaaaaa……,” another reference to Bey’s breakup ballad “Best I’ve Never Had.”
There’s no official word on the meaning behind the quotes (perhaps they’re aimed at her ex, Safaree Samuels). The closest to a possible response from the Philly rapper is an emo IG photo captioned “Even bosses got feelings ya kno?” that also went up yesterday. Maybe the hot couple is just going through a hiccup (or trolling us). But if Nicki and Meek are indeed done-zo, perhaps it has something to do with her autocratic bedroom demands?
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian Are Expecting Baby No. 2
Looks like North West will soon have a baby brother or kid sister! Kim Kardashian has confirmed she’s prego with her second child with Kanye West, on a clip that aired on E! after last night’s episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians. While little info is available on the pregnancy, it wouldn’t be a stretch if the bundle of joy dons the name South, for obvious reasons. In addition, the baby will likely not be named Amber, for equally obvious reasons.
